Fireworks construction



AJune 3, 1930. J. H. sHUNK, JR

FIREWORKS CONSTRUCTION Filed Marh 19, 1926 the 'bottoms of the lances.

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Patented .lune 3, l@

, memes 'JAMEs n. sirena; JR.,

OF ROSCOE, ILLINOIS FIREWOR-KS. CONSTRUCTION Applicationled March 19, 1926. Serial No. 95,850.

This 'invention relates to a new and improved fireworks construction, and more particularly to a construction relating to the method of securing in place the lances and fuse or match of a lance work or set piece construct-ion. Y

Set pieces, which are known as lance work` inthe pyrotechnic trade, are constructed by forming the desired design rby means of cane or other flexible strips secured to frames. Theframes are formed of thin strips of material crossed to form squares about a foot on each side, the fra-mes customarily being five by ten feet."'A number of framesY are assembled to yform the larger pictures. The design formed bylthe cane or other flexible strips is illuminatedmbyia large numberiof lancessecured to the strips at closely spaced intervals, these beingusuallyl about four inches apa-rt. These lances are paper covered rolls of illuminating material about the thickness of a pencil and varying in length depending upon the time of burning desired.

The lances are commonly secured to the cane strips by driving in wire nails and clipping offthe heads to leave the projecting portion of the nails pointed. The lances are then forced down upon the nails which penetrate This method of assembling is somewhat Vdifficult as the material of the lances hardens and the paper covering is not very heavy, so that they are frequently broken when forced on the nails. Further, the nails do not hold the lances very securely andthey sometimes become detached when the frames are hoisted into place. Tt is particularly difficult to place the lances upon nails in framesv previously used, .as the burning of the previous lances has cor-V roded and roughened the nails.

When the lances are vassembledthe fuse or place by pins forced through the fuse and into the tops of the lances. This method of assembling is dimcult in that the ends of the' lances are treated with material tending to harden them, and it "is difiicult to push the pins invwithout their bending or without using such pressure as may break the lance.

The fuse consists of an impregnated cord or wiel: enclosed in a tube of paper. After it is secured to the lance, holes are made in it opposite the ends of the lances so that the flame from the wick will ignite the lances.

It is an object of the' present invention to provide a new and improved means for attaching lances to framesY for lance work proiduction. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide al newand improved means for securing fuses to lance work.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide means of thisl character adapted for rapid assembling of lance work elements, with a minimum labor cost and a minimum of. spoilt material. Y

It is a further object to provide retaining means by which the lances may be positively secured to the framework.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated certain Vpreferred embodiments of my invention in the accompany ing drawings, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation, showing lances secured to. the supporting cane member;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; n

Figure 3 is a plan view 'of the lance securing means upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3; Y

lFigure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of lance securing means;

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the form ofv construction of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse section of a modified form of lance securing means; Y

Figure 9 is an elevation of means for se* curing thefuse to the ends of lances;

Figure 10 is a transverse section of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is ay view of a modified form of fuse securing means.

In the form of 'construction shown in Fig ures l to 5 the lance securing plates l5 are secured to the cane or other strips 16 by means` of tacks 1'?. The plates 15 are provided with struck-up tongues 18 extending parallel to the body of the plate. The 19 each provided upon their lower ends with securing members 20, having the prongs 21 extending into the lances as best shown in Figure 5. rFhe lower transverse portions cf the members 2O are provided with stuck-up portions 22, and the tongues 18 of the plates 15 pass between the portions 22 and the base of member 20. The lancesare thus positively secured in place and are maintained at right angles to the supporting plates. While plates 15 have been shown as secured to the cane by means of tacks, they obviously may be secured in place by means of down-turned prongs formed integrally with the plates, or

4by other suitable securing means.

In the form of construction shown in Figures 6 and 7 the lance receiving cups 23 are secured to the cane 16 by means of tacks 24. The cups 211 are provided with down-turned lugs adapte-d to engage openings in securing members 26 which are formed into the ends of the lances 19. As indicated in broken lines in Figure 7, the end of the member 26 is turned down to engage the lug 25 after the lance is forced into the cup.

The form of construction in Figure 8 consists in an open cup 27 secured to the Cane 16 by the tack 28. The lance 19 is :forced into the cup which is formed of light metal. er the lance is in place the cup may be laterally deformed by lateral pressure to cause it to grip the lance.

Figures 9 and 10 show a dat metal construction for securing the fuse to the upper end of the lances. The member 30 is provided with prongs 31 extending into the lance, this being preferably put in place when the lance is formed and the material is plastic. The members 30 are provided with upwardly extending prongs 82 Vand the shorter upwardlyV extending prongs 83. The fuse 34 is placed between the prongs as clearly shown in Figure 10, and the longer prong 32 is bent down over the fuse to retain it in place.

The form of construction shown in Figure 11 comprises a pair of wires or a single wire, having the twisted portion 35 extending into the upper end of the lance 19. The wire member has spaced upwardly extending portions 36 between which the fuse 34 is placed'. 'Ihe wire portions 36 may then be bentover l: or twisted together to retain the fuse in place. As in the other forms of construction the metallic securing member is preferably inserted in the lance when the latter is formed and the material is plastic.

By using any one of the forms of construction shown the lances may be very quickly assembled upon the cane framework without the use of force such as might break the lance. The lances are positively retained in place and will not become detached as the Aftframe is elevated into position for use. The match or fuse may be quickly attached to the tops of the lances and no pressure need be applied to the lances for this purpose. These constructions result not only in a decrease in the labor time required, but permit a set piece to be rapidly assembled by persons unskilled in the art.

While I have illustrated certain preferred embodiments of my invention by way of example, I contemplate such further changes andmodifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. Fireworks construction comprising a fixed member adapted to be secured to a frame, a lance, securing means fastened to said lance, and interengaging means on the lixed member and securing means whereby the lance is retained at right angles to the frame.

2. Fireworks construction comprising a lance, a fuse, and means carried by the upper end of the lance and extending from the upper face thereof for securing the fuse in engagement with the lance.

3. Fireworks construction comprising a lance, a fuse, ametallic member having a portion extending axially into the upper end of the lance, and a portion extending from the end of the lance and adapted to be bent over the fuse to retain it in engagement with the end of the lance.

4. Fireworks construction comprising a' frame, lances adapted to be secured to the frame, metal securing members fastened to the frame and metal securing means fastened to the lower ends of the lances, said securing members and means having interengaging tongues and slots to hold the lances at right angles.

5. Fireworksv construction comprising a frame, lances adapted to be secured to the frame, metal securing members fastened to the frame Vand metal securing means having portions extending into the bot-tom of the lances and having slots adapted to receive elements of the frame securing members to hold the lances at right angles.

6. Fireworks construction comprising a lance, a fuse, and means carried by the top of the lance for securing the fuse thereto, said metal means having prongs adapted to extend downwardly into the body of the lance, and having spaced upwardly extending prongs adapted to be bent around the fuse to retain the fuse against the end of the lance.

7. Fireworks construction comprising a frame, lances adapted to be secured to the frame, metal securing members fastened to the frame, said members having struck-up tongues extending parallel to the frame, and metal securing means having spaced prongs extending up into the bottom of the lances,

said members having an intermediate struckup portion with slots adjacent the sides of said portion, the tongues on the frame securing members passing through the slots andV 5 below the struck-up portion.

Signed at Roscoe,'I11inois, this 1st day of March, 1926.

JAMES H. SHUNK JR. 

